In 2010 I had a crisis. My marketing agency's biggest client had just gone bust and they were taking us down with them. Our cash flow dried up. I used my carefully stashed tax money to pay all our staff and suppliers, hoping I'd be able to dig us out of this hole but it was too late. I had to liquidate the agency before I was forced to and it left me personally liable for the 20K tax bill.

Not a great situation to be in when you have a 2 year old and your share of the mortgage and bills to pay.

I had a choice. I didn't want to get a job because I wanted to be with my little one. I couldn't face being a marketing consultant in my town because I was mortified and embarrassed about having to close the agency - the gossips were having a field day.

I had one last event planned from my agency days - a Women's Day networking event and the speaker was a coach who taught experts how to create online courses. This was new to me but it felt like a sign. I used my last £1350 on my last credit card to pay for her help and six weeks later I launched my first £997 online course. I marketed my socks off and sold 4. It changed my life.

Since then I've made multiple six figures every year in my little online-coaching business. We're a team of 2 plus a couple of trusted VAs.